Brian: I have an unusual setup, because I only use the motors for supplemental propulsion. I have really high pitch props on the motors and only run them just about idle (just high enough rpm to engage the prop clutches (around 1/4 throttle max). As a result the engines are extremely quiet. Because I have the high pitch props on there, at that RPM the boat with no sails at all on flat water cruises along at 7-8 mph. Because the engines are operating at close to idle I get huge fuel economy, about 3-3 1/2 hrs of run time per 1 liter tank of gas. At WOT 1 tank lasts about 1 hr (Honda's published economy, which I tested and got the same results). With a single Honda the boat goes about 5-6mph at 1/4 throttle with the 7 inch pitch props installed. I never run the motors without my sails up trying to sail as best I can. The motors are surprisingly quite and its hard to hear them from the front seat, in the video they are both running. I usually only sit in the front, I had my daughter out with me a few weeks back and she couldn't stand sitting in the back seat ( a motor in each ear), and we couldn't talk much with her back there so she spent most of the day up on the tramps. I used to have a rope rig thing that I could tilt the motors up from the front seat, and also another rope rig so I could start them from the front seat, but ended up taking them off after a short time (too much messing around, and too many lines). However the pvc tubing I have running up front for the throttles works great, I also have kill switches up there (ropes that I tug on to kill the engines), I also have a tether that I hook to myself, if I fall overboard it kills the engines.
I designed and went out and bought all the stuff to hook the steering and motor tilt stuff up just like a real powerboat, so I could run everything from the front seat but then decided not to bother (too much work). What I have works fine, is easy and simple, if my rudder ever fails, I left the tiller on one of the motors so if in a pinch I can steer home with the motor if the rudder breaks.
In that video if you look closely at the Porta products Merc engines, they have decals on them that say 2.5, the decals on my Hondas say 2.3 so I was preparing for an epic Honda vs Merc battle, we stayed neck and neck for quite a while, but then we left the no wake zone he was gone ( LOL).
With the motors I typically drop them down and start them when I launch, then just let them idle until I need them, then when I come in I just let the bottom tilt the motors up when I beach (the props don't spin at all when idling), I then get out and kill the motors and tilt them up.
I do have to stop and refuel every 30 miles or so, or about 3 hrs of sailing in very light winds, (each tank carries 1 liter of fuel) I carry 2 2/3 gallons of fuel on board, which should get me quite a ways if needed. I have no idea what all this means, I just have a blast going out every weekend getting my exercise (I pedal 100% of the time). My exercise program is to pedal my boat at least 15 miles per week, and have been doing that faithfully for almost 4 yrs now. However there is nothing written in my exercise plan on how long it should take so devised a way to get all my exercise done in 1-1.5 hrs vs about 8 hrs when I started. I keep tinkering until I can get it under 30 minutes (LOL). Bob
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